Chapter 3

Present...

"It really started off good you know? It really did..." Piper smiled as she recall the memories when her relationship with Dan was in their first stages, where he had treated her like a queen. "...He was taking me out for meals, holding my hand as we took late night walks along the beach...I...I didn't think he would hurt me the way he did..." A lone tear ran down her cheek and Phoebe once again comforted her.

past...

...Picking up the phone her hand shook as she began to dial the numbers of Dan's home, she held her breath and felt a smile spreading across her face as she heard his voice on the other end. "Hello?"

"Dan!"

"Piper?"

"Yeah it's me, listen, we need to talk..."

"Oh, what about?"

"About us."

"Oh..." Dan sounded disappointed. Piper realising the way it sounded quickly put his mind at ease. "No, no, sorry you got it wrong, I decided... In fact I know it's you I want to be with, what Leo and me have...had... It's all in the past now. It would have never worked out anyway." She whispered the last part to herself nor that would've heard anyway as he was too ecstatic to have been chosen over Leo to pay attention to anything else that Piper had said. "You mean you choose me over Leo, and that he's history?"

"I won't exactly go that far...I mean yeah I choose you, but me and Leo are still friends as well as my sisters. It's not like he's going to be totally out of my life. It just means that we won't be romantically involved. Can you handle that?" There was a long pause; Piper was starting to feel that she had scared him off. "...Dan?"

"I'm still here; just taking it in."

"So, you can handle that Leo still plays a small part in my life?"

"Yeah, I can handle that. Perhaps after you finish work you can come over to mine and celebrate up close and personal..."

Piper can feel herself blushing... "Yeah, I love to...I see you when I've finish, I might even go home early."

"I be waiting...I see you later hun."

"See you."

After hanging up, Piper's smile never left her face convinced that she had made the right choice. Now, all she had to do was to tell Leo.

And, if on cue that was a knock on the door followed by a head poking out.

"Piper?"

"Yeah."

"Can I have a word?"

"Yeah sure...What's up?"

Leo sighed, entering inside the office and closing the door. "Piper, you know what's up, you've been avoiding me all night. Can I ask why? I think I already know but I want you to tell me."

"Leo...I...Don't know what you're..."

"Cut the crap Piper, you know exactly what I'm talking about. You've been avoiding me all night. So talk."

Piper was getting irritated, pushing her chair back forcefully that it scrapped the floor, she got up and headed to the door, not wanting to have the talk right now and especially in her office, and her club. But, Leo wasn't having any of it.

Grabbing her wrist hard, he made her turn to face him. "No you don't, not this time you're not going anywhere until you talk to me."

"Leo...Leo let go, you're hurting me."

"And, what you're doing isn't hurting me?" Leo argued back as he let go of her wrist. "I want answers, I think I'm entitled to that. What's going on? And why the sudden cold-shoulder? We both going to stay here until I get an answer."

"You can't do that, I've got a club to run."

"You've got staff and you're sisters to run it for now. You're club will be fine."

"Alright Leo you get you're answers I promise, but not here..." She again tried to get to the door, but Leo wouldn't budge.

Piper was now getting pissed with him, for making this harder on her. "Alright, You want to know, you really want to know..." She shouted. Seeing Leo giving her the evil eye and crossing his arms, she took that as a yes. "...Fine, I'll tell you...I chose Dan...You and me are though."

"Piper..." Leo said thinking that he heard wrong. "You can't mean that, I'm mortal now we can make it work there's nothing to stop us now...not the 'elders'...not anyone...I know your family secret. How can you explain that to Dan?"

"That's between me and him..." Softening her voice she continued. "I'm sorry." Making her third attempt to get pass Leo, this time he didn't stop her, he just moved to the side to let her pass.

Turning round Piper continued. "I didn't want to tell you, not like this anyway. And despite what you say. We both know you'll sooner or later would ask for your powers back. It's who you are, once you see us hurt, you would want them back. Whether you're willingly to admit it or not."

Leo just stood there and watched Piper; his now ex-love exiting her office as well as his life.